Top 10 Skiing & Snowboarding Safety Tips

November — Skiing & Snowboarding

Get the gear and the body ready before the first storm.

1. Wear a helmet. Every day, every run.
2. Get bindings tested and DIN settings checked by a shop before the first day — not after the first crash.
3. Do pre-season conditioning. Early-season and end-of-day fatigue drive a large share of injuries.
4. Know the Responsibility Code. People ahead of you have the right of way; it's your job to avoid them.
5. Ski in control and pick runs that match your actual ability, not your ability from ten years ago.
6. Respect closures and ropes. They're there for avalanche work, thin cover and hazards you can't see.
7. Use the buddy system and set a meeting point and time in case you get separated.
8. Dress for cold and wind, with goggles and sunscreen. Frostbite happens fast on a chairlift.
9. Sidecountry is backcountry. One step past the rope means avalanche gear, training, and a partner.
10. Hydrate and take real breaks. Altitude, dry air and après-ski drinks are a bad combination.

Want this broken into weekly topics? See the November Weekly Content Calendar.

Not into skiing & snowboarding? Try a Turkey Trot or community fun run instead — a Thanksgiving tradition with huge turnout and zero snow-sport gear.

Part of the Rec+Safe Theme of the Month calendar.